banner

Aconcagua Trek 18D/17N

This 18-day program was designed thinking on the proper balance between time of acclimatization and summit success. Ideal for climbers who already have a previous acclimatization or that prefers shorter programs.

The Normal route starts with an acclimatization trekkings to Plaza Francia, and then we made the approach to Plaza de Mulas, a 40 km trek. It takes us three days to get to Plaza de Mulas. This guarantee a very good acclimatization before start the climbing of Aconcagua. Our suggested program includes two days of double equipment porting and security. When the last stage begins, we go higher and higher until we reach the summit. In the Aconcagua, sometimes the presence of a white wind makes the ascent difficult, this is what we use the security days for thus increasing the chances of reaching the summit.

Tour Highlights

Price from

$5,240.00

Check availability

Tour Information

INCLUDES:

Professional Guides: The guides are professional, experimented and highly qualified guides, with degrees and licenses from organisms that guarantee their special training. The Provincial School for Mountain and Trekking Guides (EPGAMT), is the only school that specializes on the Aconcagua, accredited in the Argentine Association for Mountain Guides (AAGM) and members of the Professional Mountain and Trekking Guides Association  (AGPMT). Some of the guides have licences from the IFMGA. Transportation: All the transportation are according to the schedule, for the group, in private vehicle.Transport Airport – Hotel in Mendoza (18 km). Transport Mendoza-Penitentes (180 km). Transport to and from Penitentes-Horcones, Aconcagua Park Entrance (7 km). Return to Mendoza from Horcones (187 km).
Accommodation: City of Mendoza: Two (2) nights of lodging in a 3 *** hotel in the city of Mendoza, double or triple room,  breakfast included. Penitentes: One (1) night at Mountain Hotel in Penitentes, Double or triple room.  Welcome dinner, breakfast and taxes are included. Beverages not included. Mountain Camps: All nights of the expedition at double tents or dormitory dome ( 4 or 8 persons) , Full Board.
Meals: All meals are included during the approaching, at Base Camp and high altitude camps. Meals are prepared daily by the cooks. Our diet include, among other things, fresh fruit, meat, chicken, vegetables, fresh eggs, bread and other. Our meals are energy balanced with all your body requires for the ascent. We are also are prepared to elaborate special meals, like vegetarian, celiac and other kinds.
This program does not include:
  • Aconcagua Park climbing fee (tax charged by Mendoza government, according to dates)
  • Personal equipment.
  • Rescue or other costs due to abandon of expedition.
  • Personal expenses (tips, laundry, phone, drinks, and porters or other items not specified above.)
  • Extra nights in hotel in case of early return to the city.
  • Meals in Mendoza.
  • All other services not listed as included.

Departures:

- 20th Nov - 7th Dec, 2019 - 27th Nov - 14th Dec, 2019 - 4th Dec - 21st Dec, 2019 - 11th Dec - 28th Dec, 2019 - 18th Dec, 2019 - 4th Jan, 2020 - 1st Jan - 18th Jan, 2020 - 8th Jan - 25th Jan, 2020 - 15th Jan - 1st Feb , 2020 - 22nd Jan - 8th Feb, 2020 - 29th Jan - 15th Feb, 2020 - 5th Feb - 22nd Feb, 2020 - 12th Feb - 29th Feb, 2020 - 19th Feb - 7th Mar, 2020

Itinerary

Day 01 · MENDOZA – Altitude: 760 mts.

Our expedition starts in Mendoza, Argentina. A representative of INKA Expediciones will be waiting for you at the airport. We will stay at the hotel in the city. A group meeting will follow and you will be introduced to your guides and team members.
Accommodation: Hotel double or triple room. – Transportation: Airport – Hotel in Mendoza.

Day 02 · Mendoza / Penitentes – Altitude: 2700 mts.

After you obtain individual park entrance and ascent permits, assisted by your guide, we meet at our commercial office to finalize all the arrangements of the expedition. Later we travel to Villa de Penitentes, where we stay at a Hotel in the mountain. There we get the equipment ready for transportation to the base camp by mule.
Transportation: Mendoza – Penitentes – Accomodation: Hotel – Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 03 · Penitentes / Confluencia – Altitude: 3368 mts.

We drive you to Horcones Park, where we get our first view of the mountain. We will get our permits checked at the Ranger station. Then, we head off to Confluencia by walking 4 or 5 hours.
Transportation: Penitentes – Horcones – Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals. Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner

Day 04 · Acclimatization trekking to Plaza Francia – Altitude: 4.200 mts.

We’ve included this day in order to acclimatize better, and give you more chances to summit. We’ll trek for about 5 hours until we arrive to Plaza Francia, base camp of the impressive Aconcagua South Wall. This is one of the nicest points of the expedition.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner

Day 05 · Approach from Confluencia to Plaza de Mulas – Altitude: 4250 mts.

After 8-9 hours hiking across “Playa Ancha” and climbing up through a very steep path, we reach Plaza de Mulas, the biggest base camp in Aconcagua Park. By the end of the day, most of us will feel the altitude.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome– Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner

Day 06 · Rest day at Plaza de Mulas – Altitude: 4250 mts.

The first day in Base Camp is always a rest day and a good occasion to take a bath and explore the local terrain.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 07 · Carry equipment and food to Camp 1 – Altitude: 4900 mts.

This is a challenging day where we gain 1.000 m. with a heavy load on easy terrain. Then we’ll return to Base Camp. It’s important to take advantage of the comfort and lower altitude at Base Camp.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner

Day 08 · Rest day at Plaza de Mulas – Altitude: 4.250 mts.

This is a day we mainly use to recover energy, to rest, to hydrate ourselves and for abundant meals.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 09 · Ascent from base camp to Camp 1 – Altitude: 4.900 mts.

The following morning we definite start the ascent to Aconcagua. We move to Camp 1, called “Plaza Canada”. Until now, we were working on get an optimal acclimatization. We want everyone to have the best possible chance to do summit.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10 · Move to Camp 2 – Altitude: 5.400 mts.

Camp 2, called “Nido de Condores” (meaning Condor Nest), is located in a high pass at 5.400 m. and provides a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 · Carry equipment from Camp 2 to Camp 3 – Altitude: 6.000 mts.

This day, we carry equipment to Camp 3 called “Camp Colera”. After carrying the equipment up, we return to Camp 2 to sleep, to give our bodies more chances to acclimatize.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 · Ascent from Camp 2 to Camp 3 – Altitude: 6.000 mts.

We start a 4 hours walk to Camp 3, located on the North Ridge. We will prepare our tents, eat and rest, to be ready to get the summit.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13 · Summit day – Altitude: 6.962 mts.

It is the most demanding day of the expedition. We climb the North Ridge to Independencia Refuge at approximately 6.500 m. We ascend through the “Portezuelo del Viento” , climb “La Canaleta”, and the “Filo del Guanaco”, that leads us to the summit. The prize is waiting for us, a 360° view and the experience of overcoming, that you only finally understand once you reach it. At the end of this experience, we descend to Camp 3.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Days 14 and 15 · Spare days in case of bad weather conditions.

We have two extra days set aside on our itinerary to attempt summit. These extra days are built in to provide the best possible conditions for each participant to summit.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 16 · Return to Base Camp.

Return from Camp 3 to Base Camp. We’ll enjoy a great dinner to celebrate the experience.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 17 · Return from base camp to Penitentes and back to Mendoza.

We have breakfast and then start the descent from Plaza de Mulas to Penitentes. There is a private transport waiting for us to take us to the hotel in Mendoza City.
Transportation: Horcones – Penitentes – Mendoza – Accommodation: Hotel double or triple room –Meals:Breakfast, Lunch Box

Day 18 · Mendoza

We have breakfast at the hotel. Check Out and end of services.